Cursor blinks, beckoning
Music twangs, stirring
Thoughts swirl, reckoning
I shared something with my private writing group this week that I think merits wider publication. I have revised it for this post.
The above non-traditional Haiku is a common and regular depiction of my mental processes and my busy world. It is easy to get caught in the “cursor blinks” or “thoughts swirl” points of thought and NOT get any writing done. Or, apply this to gardening, knitting, whittling, cleaning, furthering projects, and any other “want to” or “have to” in your world.
It is important to start. I find that I often get impatient with where I am and where I am NOT yet. As regards writing, I want to skip to the part where I already have wide publishing success, more time to write, and a cozy cottage with a brimming library and generous porch with a swing in the sun.
I have started. In 2021, I made myself a promise. In 2022, I self-published a small book of journal prompts, available on Amazon (I will revise and re-publish a Second Edition soon). I began a gig as a Monday morning co-host for a live talk show podcast that patterns itself after morning radio shows. I went back to school to finish a new degree.
In 2023, I finished my Creative Writing/English degree and was published in a magazine. I began this Substack site. I conducted 18 author interviews on the podcast where I am a Co-Host.
In 2024, I am growing my author presence and WRITING. I am growing my Substack. I am watching author lectures. I am meeting and interviewing more authors. I am hosting the Writer’s Road writing group. I am working on manuscripts (2 and planning more). I am querying my manuscripts to traditional publishing agents. I am planning my next self-published items. I am creating some "how-to" booklets and Journaling Journey (my trademark name) books. You can find my finished “Introduction to Journaling” here at my PayHip site.
Tomorrow will be my 1-yr anniversary on Substack. In that year, I have more or less written steadily once (or twice or thrice) per week. I have only reached 64 subscribers, but 2 of those are paid subscriptions. I have reached 95 Followers. My goal is to reach 125 subscribers and 200 followers by the end of this year. I hope to reach 500 by the end of 2025. I would like at least 10% of those to be paid subscriptions.
None of this happens without starting. I see some people growing faster and it is tempting to look at my steady progress as somehow unsatisfactory. Comparison is a sure way to find discontentment. I look at where I started and where I am now, and I see a lot to be proud of and satisfied with. My podcast (The Old Man’s Podcast where I am a Monday Co-Host) has over 64,000 listeners and over 100,000 downloads over the past two years. I am just a co-host (there are other Co-Hosts the other days of the week), but/and it has nearly doubled its downloads in the past 12 months.
I have recently sprouted an oak tree. Oaks take up to 6 years to even be fully sustaining. They take 30 years to begin producing acorns. I picked up this acorn this winter with the idea that I would like to try to get it to start and nurture it as a Bonsai. It sprouted and I have nurtured it each day. My writing journey is like that acorn's journey. It will take time to grow and thrive. It will take time to become sturdy and sustaining. But it won't happen at all without small, steady nurturing along the way. Two days ago was transplant day. It is well on its way, but won’t thrive without continued support. Same goes for me.
When the cursor blinks, when the music takes you into contemplation, when the swirling thoughts churn, it is time to reckon with your blank page and fill it up. Nurture it. Start, and keep going.
Start. Keep going. Simple yet powerful. And it's so important to notice what's been happening along the way, isn't it? Thanks for the inspiration.